Beauty Buzz: Red Alert

Between the warm weather, late nights, a crazy schedule, the last thing that I want to worry about is reapplying my make up throughout the day. These past few weeks I have become obsessed with a natural  make up look. I can not count how many time I have woken up with minimal time to get ready for class, yet this routine works perfectly for the five minutes that I have to spare. Regardless of the events for the day, this look can easily be taken from day to night. Simply start with your tinted moisturizer (foundation, powder, or whatever you feel comfortable with), add a swipe of mascara, and top off the look with a shade of RED LIPSTICK! Now I know that many of you think that red lips are too bold for daytime looks. However, when done tastefully, this look can fool anyone into thinking you have an entirely made-up face. It is best to aim for lighter shades during your morning and afternoon hours. To transform this into a look for going out, simple swipe your lashes with another coat (both top and bottom to really make them pop) and intensify your lip shade. Having such a light look on your eyes will balance out the color and refrain you from looking like the local "streetwalker". Don't be afraid to channel your inner Marilyn! Red is a universal color, regardless to skin tone and adding a dose of color to your lips will help you stand out again those other campus style stars. If you're worried about this trend still, here are some key rules to remember:


Rule No. 1: The secret lies in the rest of your face. The paler the skin, the bigger the pop. Go light on the eyes and the blush, otherwise you'll risk looking like a clown. Skip eyeliner and go only for mascara (black for brunettes, brown for blondes and redheads), making sure to apply to bottom lashes (it opens up your eyes). Dust face with powder and cheeks with a soft blush (if necessary).


Rule No. 2: Line inside of lips. Red lipstick tends to bleed, so fill in lips with lip liner first.


Rule No. 3: Pick the right color. If your complexion is pink, you'll look better in plum shades, while girls with yellow tones are flattered by warmer reds that have a brown base.


Rule No. 4: Don't let nails clash. Non-red nail polish is preferred when you're going red on the lips. A clear polish or light color is cool, and dark polish is a trend that shows no sign of going away anytime soon. If you want to go red on the nails, make sure the color matches your lips.


Rule No. 5: Blending is in. Few makeup artists stick to one shade of any lipstick, they tend to blend a few to create the perfect colors. If you've bought a red lipstick shade that's too bright, dark or whatever, don't throw it away. Instead, experiment with other lipstick shades you have on hand to create the perfect shade of red.


Rule No. 6: Choose lighter shades if you are older. Our lips thin as we age and dark lips can accentuate them. To keep lips from looking too severe, try a rosy red or avoid red lips altogether and opt for a neutral shade, playing up your eyes instead. 


Be Bold and Stay Chic,

Jade Alexis